Saturday, 19 February 2011

So that's that then. Another great Scottish band have gone the way of the dodo. Although, after being with us for three years, they've left us a wee memento to remember them by... and it's an outstanding one at that! It must be said, I jumped on the Come On Gang! bandwagon pretty late on. By which time they had just released their third, finest, and ultimately, last, single Fortune Favours The Brave. So their goodbyes have all come a bit too soon for my liking, especially given the affect their album Strike A Match has had on me.

Most of my listening these days is done in the car on my way to work. So given the driving hoodoo behind their debut single Wheels that guitarist Mikey Morrison recently revealed, and my own slightly superstitious OCD tendencies, it took me a while to pluck up the courage to listen to the album in its entirety. Since then, not much else has gotten a look in. It is an absolute belter of an album, and without question, one of the most instantly enjoyable of recent years. One of those rare albums without a single duff note, just track after track of perfect post-punky pop.

It's virtually impossible to single out my favourite track, but if pressed, Fortune Favours The Brave might just edge it for its sharp hooks and insanely catchy doo-doo-doo's which set the tone for all that follows. As for Wheels and 'those accidents', it's no coincidence. I defy anyone to listen to it and not lose all control over their limbs, head and vocal cords.

They say they set out to make music we could all dance to, and to say they've achieved that is an understatement. Throughout, the unique vocals of singer (and drummer) Sarah Tanat-Jones are stunning, no more so than the goosebumpy closing stages of To The Morning.

The pace throughout the album is relentless, only letting up a bit on closing track Start The Sound, a fitting goodbye if ever there was one. It's clear the band have put their all into this album. It really is remarkable. You'd be mad not to buy it.

I can just imagine in a few years time, hearing one of the tracks somewhere and going home and listening to the album again non-stop for a while. It's possibly the best Scottish debut since Tigermilk in my opinion and if there's any smidgen of justice in the world, it''ll be seen that way long after they've said their fond farewell. Sarah, Mikey, Rob, Trev, thank you! All the very best...